Shopper shares how she fell for scam and was almost left £650 out of pocket
A Target shopper has revealed she was left almost $800 (£650) out of pocket after falling victim to a scam.
Ariana Tomlinson, a TikToker, and her boyfriend were approached in the store by a woman who asked whether they could help her purchase some cans of baby formula at the checkout.
The couple agreed to help the customer as her shopping trolley was full of baby products and, despite the pair not having children, they were aware of the rising cost of formula leaving many parents struggling.
In addition, Ariana was told by the shopper the customer was a single mum with three children and needed some help purchasing five cans of baby formula.
When the pair went to checkout, Ariana started to realise she was being "distracted" by the mum while scanning the items.
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Ariana started to feared she wouldn't be able to afford the items.
She said in the video, which has gone viral: "The numbers are getting pretty high and she’s trying to distract me.”
The shopper then gave Ariana her mobile number and pledged to pay her back.
Ariana said: “I let her do it because I see the number and I’m like I cannot afford this.”
She then called the number but the woman's number didn't ring or make a vibrating noise.
The TikToker added: “Her phone did not light up, it did not ring, there wasn’t a sound or vibration nothing.
“That should have been a red flag to me. I look over it’s 800 dollars.”
The couple paid for the baby formula before realising they were being scammed.
She said she was nearly $800 out of pocket (@arianatomlinson2323/tiktok)Ariana said: "My boyfriend is looking like he just saw a ghost.”
Staff at Target told the pair there was nothing they could do unless she returned the formula.
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She said: “Me and my boyfriend go back to my car and we’re like freaking out because we don’t know what the f**k to do. We’re short 800 f**king dollars.”
Ariana and her boyfriend managed to confront the woman who put rolled down her car window and dropped the tins of baby formula.
She was trying to be a good Samaritan (@arianatomlinson2323/tiktok)She said: “We got the money back and everything, but it was terrifying. I was literally like crying because 800 f**king dollars.”
The TikToker has warned customers to stay away of distraction techniques after falling victim to a "good Samaritan" scam.
Police said thieves often work in pairs and it is not uncommon for victims to claim they're in distress and need help - like Ariana fell victim too.
Steve Elms, from the Halton Police Department, said: "They may be telling the victim their tire is low on air to get the victim out of their car.
“While the person is checking the tire, another person may be then taking their wallet out of their car.”
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